business travelers – LODGINGhttp://lodgingmagazine.com
Official Publication of AHLA. LODGING covers hotel news and hospitality industry stories.Thu, 24 May 2018 15:41:38 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6Survey: Most Business Travelers Take Time Out for Funhttp://lodgingmagazine.com/survey-most-business-travelers-take-time-out-for-fun/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/survey-most-business-travelers-take-time-out-for-fun/#respondFri, 23 Feb 2018 13:49:19 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=36245ST. LOUIS—Frequent business travelers are taking time for fun and personal activities during their business trips, according to a new survey from National Car Rental. And, although most feel their break from work is well-deserved, many business travelers avoid telling their managers, co-workers, and even spouses. The National Car Rental State of Business Travel Survey asked 1,000 U.S. frequent business travelers about their travel habits. The results reveal that those who take regular business trips are ...

]]>ST. LOUIS—Frequent business travelers are taking time for fun and personal activities during their business trips, according to a new survey from National Car Rental. And, although most feel their break from work is well-deserved, many business travelers avoid telling their managers, co-workers, and even spouses.

The National Car Rental State of Business Travel Survey asked 1,000 U.S. frequent business travelers about their travel habits. The results reveal that those who take regular business trips are successfully managing their work/life balance on the road–but many are keeping it to themselves. Overall, 80 percent of business travelers feel they deserve to take a break from work and make time for themselves during business trips. Yet 38 percent think they shouldn’t tell their bosses about fun and/or personal activities while traveling, 40 percent avoid telling co-workers; and 31 percent aren’t telling their spouses or significant others. One in four business travelers avoid posting on social media about fun times had while on the road.

But all the secrecy may be unwarranted, according to the survey results. Nearly all bosses and supervisors surveyed (92 percent) support their employees taking time out to enjoy themselves while traveling for business.

“Business travel may seem glamorous to some, but the reality of navigating airports, managing hectic meeting schedules, and sleeping in unfamiliar places can become tiresome and stressful over time,” says Rob Connors, vice president of brand marketing for National. “Our survey results showed not only are frequent business travelers finding ways to balance both business expectations and personal interests on the road, but that their bosses support them in doing so.”

In fact, striking that balance to make business travel more enjoyable has clear benefits, according to survey results. Despite the challenges, 92 percent of business travelers report feeling satisfied with their quality of life on the road. The majority (57 percent) report working more hours and 48 percent say they have more focus when traveling for business. In addition, 40 percent state they’re more efficient on the road and 51 percent stay calmer when they travel for business compared to their everyday lives. Further, 86 percent of business travelers report successfully managing their personal lives while on business travel. Eighty-three percent consider themselves “business travel pros” while 84 percent say they know how to make the most out of life while traveling for business.

The survey also showed that business travel isn’t slowing down among this group—a large majority of frequent business travelers report they’ll head out on as many or more business trips in 2018—with 90 percent planning to travel at least the same amount as last year or more. Male millennials (41 percent) and Gen-X females (36 percent) are the age groups most likely to travel more in 2018. Of those surveyed, 89 percent said that they are satisfied with the amount of business travel they do. Baby boomers (93 percent) were more satisfied with the number of business trips they take than millennials (89 percent) and Gen-X (86 percent). Boomers (94 percent) also reported being more satisfied with their quality of life on the road compared with Gen-X (90 percent).

Business Travelers Take Advantage of Loyalty Programs and Technology

Business travelers report loyalty programs are high on their list of tools that help them master the business travel game. Sixty-six percent say they are members of airline loyalty programs, 64 percent report say they are members of hotel loyalty programs, and 39 percent report membership in car rental loyalty programs.

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/survey-most-business-travelers-take-time-out-for-fun/feed/0U.S. Business Travelers More Confident That AI and VR Will Improve Travelhttp://lodgingmagazine.com/u-s-business-travelers-more-confident-that-ai-and-vr-will-improve-travel/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/u-s-business-travelers-more-confident-that-ai-and-vr-will-improve-travel/#respondTue, 19 Sep 2017 14:16:22 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=33232Bellevue, Wash.–Egencia, the business travel arm of Expedia, Inc., has released survey results showing that business traveler’s attitudes vary across the globe when it comes to the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) on corporate travel. The 4th edition Egencia Business Travel and Technology Survey shows that U.S. business travelers are more confident about the potential of emerging technologies to improve the business travel experience that business travelers ...

]]>Bellevue, Wash.–Egencia, the business travel arm of Expedia, Inc., has released survey results showing that business traveler’s attitudes vary across the globe when it comes to the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) on corporate travel. The 4th edition Egencia Business Travel and Technology Survey shows that U.S. business travelers are more confident about the potential of emerging technologies to improve the business travel experience that business travelers abroad, who remain much more pessimistic in comparison.

More than half (55 percent) of U.S. business travelers believe AI advancements can improve their travel experiences, with 62 percent rejecting the belief that AI and VR could end mankind as we know it today. While U.S. business travelers are cautiously optimistic that emerging technologies can improve their business travel experiences, they recognize the need for balance between technology and human interaction. When compared to other regions, business travelers outside the U.S. have lower confidence levels and are far less optimistic about the use of technology overall.

“The adoption of new technologies is increasingly happening on the consumer side, ahead of the corporate world. AI and VR are no exception and are very much in their infancy. However, similar to disruptors in other technology-led industries, investments in new technologies that create simplicity and improvements in experience will ultimately win over business travelers and drive significant change in the overall industry,” said Michael Gulmann, chief product officer at Egencia. “There is a fundamental shift already happening in the traveler mindset that companies need to anticipate travelers’ needs and simplify all aspects of business travel, regardless of how a traveler chooses to interact with travel companies. As such, there is a balancing act for travel companies to ensure they offer the latest technology, alongside the ability for travelers to connect with a live person anytime, anywhere.”

When compared to the U.S., business travelers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the U.K., and Singapore have lower confidence levels towards how AI advancements can improve their business travel experiences in the future and they certainly think it is less likely that AI and VR will threaten mankind.

At 37 percent, Sweden and Norway were the least likely to believe AI advancements will improve their travel experiences followed by 41 percent in the U.K. and Germany, 42 percent in Australia, 44 percent in Canada and France, and 47 percent in Singapore. When asked if travelers believe AI and VR could end mankind, 72 percent of business travelers in Norway said “no” compared to 70 percent in Sweden, 67 percent in the U.K., 64 percent in Canada and Germany, 61 percent in France, and 60 percent in Australia and Singapore.

While business travelers in EMEA and APAC countries are more pessimistic on the promise of emerging technologies for business travel compared to their U.S. counterparts, they still demand more mobile accessibility across devices. In fact, 68 percent of business travelers in Singapore and Sweden want to more efficiently manage their travel across devices, compared to 65 percent in Canada and Norway, 64 percent in France and the U.K., 62 percent in Germany. The U.S. is once again the most tech demanding, with 76 percent wanting greater cross-device integration.

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/u-s-business-travelers-more-confident-that-ai-and-vr-will-improve-travel/feed/0Business Travelers Want More Access To Tech On The Roadhttp://lodgingmagazine.com/business-travelers-want-more-access-to-tech-on-the-road/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/business-travelers-want-more-access-to-tech-on-the-road/#respondTue, 11 Jul 2017 13:16:55 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=31841Business travelers are looking for greater access to technology and cross-device integration on the road, according to a survey by Egencia, Expedia’s business travel arm. The fourth edition Egencia Business Travel and Technology Survey was conducted by Northstar, a strategic insights consulting firm, among 4,521 business travelers over the age of 18 across nine countries, including the U.S. The results highlight that business travelers prefer technology that makes their journey more productive and manageable. Among ...

]]>Business travelers are looking for greater access to technology and cross-device integration on the road, according to a survey by Egencia, Expedia’s business travel arm. The fourth edition Egencia Business Travel and Technology Survey was conducted by Northstar, a strategic insights consulting firm, among 4,521 business travelers over the age of 18 across nine countries, including the U.S.

The results highlight that business travelers prefer technology that makes their journey more productive and manageable. Among U.S. business travelers, more than three in four (76 percent) said that they want the ability to manage and book travel for work on every mobile device, not just their smartphone. When it comes to travel and hospitality service, half of global respondents said that while they would normally avoid human interaction on the road, they prefer to speak with a human if are having a problem. In the U.S., 63 percent of business travelers said that they would like the ability to text to update their travel arrangements.

“We are at a turning point in business travel. Business travelers have high expectations and they want instant access to information and tools on every device,” said Rob Greyber, president of Egencia. “In an industry where traveler satisfaction and corporate interests like efficiency and productivity are often at odds, Egencia is building solutions that address both groups’ needs. The belief that delight for business travelers and productivity for travel managers aren’t mutually exclusive is at the heart of our integrated cross-device products, available today around the world.”

Business travelers are also optimistic about the possibility of technology improving their life on the road in the future. In the U.S., 55 percent believe advancements in artificial intelligence will benefit their overall experience.

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/business-travelers-want-more-access-to-tech-on-the-road/feed/0Study Explores Use of Tech to Improve Business Traveler Experiencehttp://lodgingmagazine.com/study-explores-use-of-tech-to-improve-business-traveler-experience/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/study-explores-use-of-tech-to-improve-business-traveler-experience/#respondWed, 15 Jul 2015 14:18:46 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=19526A new study conducted by the GBTA Foundation takes a look at technology currently being used by business travelers to determine what gaps exist in their hotel experience and to identify potential technology solutions. According to the new whitepaper, sponsored by AccorHotels, areas of excitement where tech can elevate the business traveler experience include seamless online check-in and room entry; developing a text or app-based concierge service; and integrating e-folios into expense reporting software. Areas ...

]]>A new study conducted by the GBTA Foundation takes a look at technology currently being used by business travelers to determine what gaps exist in their hotel experience and to identify potential technology solutions. According to the new whitepaper, sponsored by AccorHotels, areas of excitement where tech can elevate the business traveler experience include seamless online check-in and room entry; developing a text or app-based concierge service; and integrating e-folios into expense reporting software. Areas for improvement include enhancing technology around the use of airport shuttle services; pre-trip communications, such as tailoring both email or text-based communications to the business traveler; and refining the information exchange between hotels and the GDS. Read more over at GBTA.

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/study-explores-use-of-tech-to-improve-business-traveler-experience/feed/0Business Travel Spending to Rise 4.9 Percent in 2015http://lodgingmagazine.com/business-travel-spending-to-rise-4-9-percent-in-2015/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/business-travel-spending-to-rise-4-9-percent-in-2015/#respondTue, 07 Jul 2015 13:51:18 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=19376U.S. business travel spending will increase by 4.9 percent in 2015 to $302.7 billion, yet ongoing concerns about the U.S. economy will rein-in what could be even sharper growth, according to new research from the GBTA Foundation and Visa. The 2016 outlook anticipates a surge in economic activity and confidence, with travel spending projected to increase by 5.4 percent to $318.9 billion. Total trip volume follows a similar trend for 2015 and 2016. In 2015, ...

]]>U.S. business travel spending will increase by 4.9 percent in 2015 to $302.7 billion, yet ongoing concerns about the U.S. economy will rein-in what could be even sharper growth, according to new research from the GBTA Foundation and Visa.

The 2016 outlook anticipates a surge in economic activity and confidence, with travel spending projected to increase by 5.4 percent to $318.9 billion.

Total trip volume follows a similar trend for 2015 and 2016. In 2015, U.S. travel volume is expected to increase by 1 percent to 488.1 million person-trips—an average of 1.3 million trips for every day of the year. Growth will substantially increase in 2016 with business travel volume accelerating by 3 percent to 502.8 million person-trips. That amounts to an average of more than 38,000 additional business trips every day.

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/business-travel-spending-to-rise-4-9-percent-in-2015/feed/0Palmer House Gives Travelers Opportunities to Connecthttp://lodgingmagazine.com/palmer-house-gives-travelers-opportunities-to-connect/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/palmer-house-gives-travelers-opportunities-to-connect/#respondWed, 29 Apr 2015 16:13:16 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=18199Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, has been catering to travelers in downtown Chicago for more than 140 years. With a long and lush history, the property has hosted almost every U.S. president since Ulysses S. Grant. The hotel’s famed Empire Room—now a venue for lavish weddings and high-end corporate events—was once a supper club that showcased the top performers of the day, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Louis Armstrong, just to name a few. ...

]]>Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, has been catering to travelers in downtown Chicago for more than 140 years. With a long and lush history, the property has hosted almost every U.S. president since Ulysses S. Grant. The hotel’s famed Empire Room—now a venue for lavish weddings and high-end corporate events—was once a supper club that showcased the top performers of the day, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Louis Armstrong, just to name a few. According to Ken Price, Palmer House’s director of public relations and resident historian, it is the people who built and stayed at Palmer House who are responsible for its rich history. “It is their blood, guts, and DNA that make it so fascinating,” he said.

Price is especially well versed in the origins of the hotel and family who built it—the Palmers. Constructed as a wedding gift from Chicago entrepreneur Potter Palmer to his bride, Bertha Honoré, the original Palmer House was open for less than two weeks before it was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The hotel was rebuilt at Bertha’s insistence, a decision that Price credits with helping the city get back on its feet after the cataclysmic blaze. The Palmers, especially Bertha, would continue to play a massive role in Chicago’s growth and prominence.

To highlight the property’s history, Price, who has worked at Palmer House for more than 30 years, gives guests of the hotel a special tour, “History is Hott.” The tour allows guests to visit Price’s self-curated, in-house museum, stuffed full of relics from years past. It also gives them an opportunity to travel through the hotel with Price leading the way, explaining the history of the different spaces, many of which received a facelift during a $170 million renovation project between 2007 and 2009.

Palmer House attracts all types of guests, from tourists looking for a hotel with historical significance to business travelers hoping to take in some of Chicago’s culture. It is the latter group in which Palmer House has seen a sharp uptick in attendance, and as such the hotel has started to develop programs meant to cater to this audience. Through its new Building a Business Travel Community program, the hotel hosts private events in business travelers’ honor, encouraging them to leave their rooms and socialize with other guests. Past events have included making gingerbread houses with Palmer House’s pastry chef and learning about Palmer House’s rooftop beehive, which produces honey that is used in the hotel’s cocktails.

For its most recent Building a Business Travel Community event, Palmer House partnered with Stop Hunger Now, a charity that sends food and life-saving aid to vulnerable populations and is working to end global hunger. During the event, which took place on April 21, volunteers filled, weighed, and sealed bags of nutritious meals, then packaged the bags into boxes and loaded them onto pallets for shipment.

Before volunteers manned their stations, Gene Hare, director of sales and marketing, Hiltons of Chicago, gave volunteers a pep talk highlighting not only the good that participants were doing for their community, but also calling attention to the need for people to connect with each other on a personal level while traveling. “The important thing about these events is that we get a chance to connect outside of our business lives. We all have crazy schedules. It’s so cool and so rewarding to watch people from totally different types of companies get together and work like this,” he said.

This is the second time that Palmer House has partnered with Stop Hunger Now. Volunteers included employees of the hotel, Hilton employees from around the country, employees of neighboring Chicago institutions, such as the Art Institute, and Palmer House guests who only learned about the event when they checked in to their rooms that day. Together, the volunteers packaged more than 10,000 bags of food (60,000-plus meals) for hungry people.

Devin Walker, program manager, Indianapolis, Stop Hunger Now, said that actually packaging the food can make much more of an impact on volunteers than simply making a monetary donation. “If you’re hands-on person, and you want to get your hands dirty, you’re actually putting food in a box for someone who really needs it. It’s very powerful,” she said. Walker added that Hilton has always been a great sponsor of Stop Hunter Now. “They’ve always supported our mission, and I’m always excited to get a chance to work with them.”

By all accounts, the event was a great success. “In the end, you feel like you’ve really accomplished something special, and that, ultimately, is what we’re about,” Hare said. “We want to be a part of something special, be a part of a bigger community, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/palmer-house-gives-travelers-opportunities-to-connect/feed/0U.S. Business Travel Volume Projected to Rise Over Next Two Yearshttp://lodgingmagazine.com/u-s-business-travel-volume-projected-to-rise-over-next-two-years/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/u-s-business-travel-volume-projected-to-rise-over-next-two-years/#respondTue, 14 Apr 2015 22:26:44 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=17942U.S. business travel volume is expected to increase over the next two years, as the U.S. economy moves into higher gear, according to a report from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation. Overall, GBTA expects U.S. business travel spending to advance 3.1 percent to $295.7 billion in 2015, a lower figure than last quarter’s forecast due to lower than expected prices on travel goods and services. Total person-trip volume, on the other hand, is ...

]]>U.S. business travel volume is expected to increase over the next two years, as the U.S. economy moves into higher gear, according to a report from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation. Overall, GBTA expects U.S. business travel spending to advance 3.1 percent to $295.7 billion in 2015, a lower figure than last quarter’s forecast due to lower than expected prices on travel goods and services. Total person-trip volume, on the other hand, is expected to increase, more than previously expected, by 1.7 percent to 492.1 million trips in 2015, the report shows. This rise in volume follows three quarters with relatively no change in GBTA’s forecast.

“The expected increase in U.S. business travel volume is an excellent indicator of how the overall domestic economy is faring, with every sector and consumer spending performing better than we’ve seen since 2009,” said Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO. “Thanks to a healthier domestic economy and a stronger U.S. dollar, companies are putting more travelers on the road not only because they can afford to, but because they continue to see a strong return on their business travel investment.”

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/u-s-business-travel-volume-projected-to-rise-over-next-two-years/feed/0How Business Travelers Buy: Hotel Pricing in a Social Worldhttp://lodgingmagazine.com/how-business-travelers-buy-hotel-pricing-in-a-social-world/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/how-business-travelers-buy-hotel-pricing-in-a-social-world/#respondThu, 20 Nov 2014 15:11:38 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=15424There is more information than ever before at the point of purchase for a hotel stay. With ratings, reviews, price, brand, and TripAdvisor rank, consumers can get a full picture of the value of a hotel as compared to others in the market. Understanding how consumers use all of the information at the point of purchase to assess value and ultimately make a purchase decision will help hotel managers build more profitable pricing and positioning ...

]]>There is more information than ever before at the point of purchase for a hotel stay. With ratings, reviews, price, brand, and TripAdvisor rank, consumers can get a full picture of the value of a hotel as compared to others in the market. Understanding how consumers use all of the information at the point of purchase to assess value and ultimately make a purchase decision will help hotel managers build more profitable pricing and positioning strategies. Unmanaged business travelers in particular make up a large and valuable segment for most hotels. Proper pricing and positioning to this market can have a huge impact to the bottom line.

To understand how business travelers buy, we recruited an online panel of business travelers who travel at least six times per year. The panel was shown a set of hotels with varying levels of price, brand, and user generated content (ratings and reviews) and were asked to indicate which hotel they would book. By tracking their pattern of choices, we were able to assess how important each attribute was to them, and how they used that attribute to assess value. This study was a follow up to an earlier studyon leisure traveler behavior.

Here is a summary of our results:

Reviews Matter: Some in industry have theorized that since frequent business travelers are more experienced with hotel stays, they probably aren’t as influenced by reviews as a less experienced traveler might be—and instead are driven by other elements like loyalty points or status. Our results showed that business travelers do pay attention to reviews. In fact, review sentiment was the most influential attribute on choice behavior, with negative reviews having a significant negative impact on value perceptions.

Beyond just paying attention to the sentiment of the reviews, business travelers also prefer a review that provides a description of the experience, as opposed a more emotional reaction. They want to know what the experience will be like, positive or negative.

Loyalty Matters: Presumably, frequent business travelers take advantage of earning loyalty program points and status. But does this influence business traveler choice behavior and value perceptions to a greater or lesser extent than price or user generated content?

Not surprisingly, we found that loyalty program membership is highly influential on choice behavior for frequent business travelers. After review sentiment, it was the second most influential attribute on overall choice behavior. Our business travelers expressed a slight preference for a known brand over an unknown brand, but a significant preference for a brand they identified as their “preferred” brand. In fact, it appeared that business travelers were wiling to put up with an experience that was just “OK” to stay at a hotel where they could earn their points.

Price Matters: It’s a commonly held belief that business travelers are not price sensitive. However, our study results showed that business travelers did respond to a “deal” or the lowest offered price but only the lowest offered price. Once the price was raised above that lower level, changes up or down made no difference. This goes counter to previously held beliefs about business traveler’s reaction to price, suggesting that maybe there is just something about human nature that responds to a deal.

The impact of low price was not great enough to overcome the negative impact of a negative review. This result suggests that all things being equal with reputation, a hotel could use price to attract this valuable demand segment. It is important to note, however, that the price has to be the lowest in the market—a couple of dollars here or there is not going to shift business traveler demand. Of course, dropping price has other implications that need to be considered.

Building effective pricing and positioning strategies is not getting any easier. There are many levers that hotels can pull to “win” in their markets, but to be successful at this, they need to carefully assess how they stand relative to the market. Hotels with robust loyalty programs have a leg up with business travelers, but most frequent travelers have multiple program memberships—they will go to a competing hotel if yours doesn’t measure up. You still need to pay attention to how you sit within the market in both your reputation and your price, no matter how good your loyalty program is.

About the authors:Kelly A. McGuire, Ph.D., is executive director of hospitality and travel global practice at SAS, and Breffni M. Noone, Ph.D., is associate professor of hospitality management at The Pennsylvania State University.

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/how-business-travelers-buy-hotel-pricing-in-a-social-world/feed/0Choice Hotels Shares Road Warrior Survey Findingshttp://lodgingmagazine.com/choice-hotels-shares-road-warrior-survey-findings/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/choice-hotels-shares-road-warrior-survey-findings/#respondWed, 30 Apr 2014 14:42:43 +0000http://lodgingmagazine.com/?p=11287Choice Hotels International has announced the findings from its Road Warrior Survey, which shows that 73 percent of business travelers value location when selecting a hotel, followed by room value at 61 percent. Free WiFi ranked third on the list at 55 percent. The survey also found that 84 percent of business travelers prefer to work in their hotel room, compared with the 4 percent who prefer the lobby and the 10 percent who prefer ...

]]>Choice Hotels International has announced the findings from its Road Warrior Survey, which shows that 73 percent of business travelers value location when selecting a hotel, followed by room value at 61 percent. Free WiFi ranked third on the list at 55 percent. The survey also found that 84 percent of business travelers prefer to work in their hotel room, compared with the 4 percent who prefer the lobby and the 10 percent who prefer to work from a hotel’s business center. Other findings from the survey include: 76 percent book hotel reservations online; 60 percent have used a smartphone or tablet to check-in; and 55 percent expect HDTV in their hotel room. Read the full release over at The Wall Street Journal.

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/choice-hotels-shares-road-warrior-survey-findings/feed/0Female Business Traveler Boomhttp://lodgingmagazine.com/female-business-traveler-boom/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/female-business-traveler-boom/#respondFri, 09 Aug 2013 00:06:30 +0000http://www.lodging.dreamhosters.com/?p=2502Phyllis Stoller, owner of the Women’s Travel Group in New York City, is happy that more hotels are ditching cliché Girlfriend Getaways and instead catering to avid women travelers and businesswomen, whose needs stretch well beyond complimentary cocktails. “We’re not girls,” she says. “We would like to see more about the neighborhood around the hotel, so once we’re finished with work, we can walk around, go shopping, explore the area, get something to eat, meet ...

]]>Phyllis Stoller, owner of the Women’s Travel Group in New York City, is happy that more hotels are ditching cliché Girlfriend Getaways and instead catering to avid women travelers and businesswomen, whose needs stretch well beyond complimentary cocktails.

“We’re not girls,” she says. “We would like to see more about the neighborhood around the hotel, so once we’re finished with work, we can walk around, go shopping, explore the area, get something to eat, meet other people. We want to feel safe and comfortable. That would entice us.”

Women represent the most important and fastest growing segment of the travel market, according to a 2011 CAP Strategic Research survey. With a rising number of females traveling alone or with all-female leisure groups, hotels continue to introduce tailored experiences and amenities that will attract and accommodate women like Stoller.

“Women are very particular. When it comes to travel, it’s no different,” says Kristine Rose, vice president of brand experience at Hyatt, which has seen a bump in its guest satisfaction scores since introducing its new Women’s Experience program this spring. “In the hotel industry, we’ve always had a desire to meet the needs of women travelers. We’ve found when we actually make women happy and comfortable then all of our guests are happy.”

Rose says the Women’s Experience program, which targets female business travelers, grew out of complaints Hyatt hotels and resorts received via social media about the quality of their complimentary shampoos and conditioners.

“We have so many more ways to hear all of the challenges our guests have, and that’s bubbling up new insights that we didn’t know were out there,” Rose says. “We’re taking advantage of that information.”